Australia’s Seven Network & Beyond Productions Establish New Venture

October 21, 2013 World Screen Top Stories

SYDNEY: Australia's Seven Network and Beyond Productions have come together to create 7Beyond, a new venture aimed at developing programming initially for the North American marketplace.

7Beyond will have its home base in Los Angeles. The content generated by the venture will be co-produced by Seven Network's Seven Productions and by Beyond Productions. The output will be distributed internationally by Beyond Distribution.

Michael Krupat, most recently the senior VP of development and branded content at Ryan Seacrest Productions, has been tapped to lead the new venture as senior VP of development. Prior to his time at RSP, Krupat created Food Network's hit show Chopped. He also served as executive producer on such shows as OWN's The Customer is Always Right and VH1's Dad Camp.

Brad Lyons, the director of network production for the Seven Network, said, "Our success in television is built on great ideas, and creating and commissioning great programs. Our success in production and most importantly our people are driving a growth business for Seven Productions. This business is expanding dramatically. A key focus for us is taking our ideas and our content further into international markets. This strategy involves partnering with strategic alliances such as this venture with Beyond. Beyond has a fantastic team and we are looking forward to creating great new content with them."

John Luscombe, the executive VP and general manager of Beyond Productions, added, "Beyond has a great reputation for developing innovative and substantial formats for the American marketplace. Joining forces with Australia's largest producer and leading free-to-air network is a great way to expand our long-standing production business in the United States."